Automatic expression device for player-pianos



S L. FISHER.

AUTOMAHC EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PLAYER HANDS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEQ. [917.

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AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICKTION FILED IUNE 9. 191].

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S. L. FISHER,

I AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9 1931' Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

@ SHEETS-QUEST 3- S. L. FISHER.

AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE 9.1917.

1 69,524. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

as 4.4, .D D 1 I 46 Hm 4z INVENTOR if FM $5 51 BY 4'9 4' 61 54. 55 WWATTORNE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY L. FISHER, OF CHESTER, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PRATT READPLAYER ACTION COMPANY, OF DEEP RIVER, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed June 9, 1917. Serial No. 178,707.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY L. FISHER, a subject of the King of GreatBritain residing in Chester, county of Middlesex, gtate of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticExpression Devices for Player-Pianos, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic expression devices for musicalinstruments, and it'has particular reference to automatically operatingmeans for actuating the hammer rest-rails of player pianos. Myimprovements are particularly applicable to the automatic operation bypneumatic means of the base and treble sections of a divided hammerrest-rail in an automatically operated player piano, but the inventionmay also be used to advantage in other appl1cations or connections.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide improved meanscontrolled by movement of the exhausting apparatus for automaticallyoperating expression or other devices, and, more specifically,

to furnish a device arranged exteriorly of,

but mechanicall actuated from, an equalizer or other bel owsforcontrolling or actuating a movable hammer rail section, or like device.

In the playing of pieces of music on a player piano, the operator pumpsstrongly for obtaining loud effects and gently for obtaining softeffects. In one case the bellows forming a part of the exhaustingapparatus are considerably collapsed, while 1n the other case thecollapse is negligible. Hence, by controlling one or more expressiondevices from the bellows, for example the equalizer bellows, the desiredeffects may be obtained. In the form of my invention selected forillustration the hammer rest-rail is automatically moved up, close tothe strings when the pedaling is only sufficient to collapse theequalizing bellows to a slight extent, whereas when the bellows are morefully collapsedby hardpedaling, the hammer rest-rail is moved back tothe initial position. It may be assumed, of course. that when'thepedaling is light a soft effect is desired, and this is automaticallyobtained by movement of the hammer rest-rail toward the strings toshorten the length of the hammer stroke; conversely, when the pedalingis executed with considerable force, it may be assumed that a loudeffect is desired, and this is automatically obtained by the withdrawalof the hammer rest-rail to the initial or normal position. The hammerrest-rail is usually divided into bass and treble sections independentlyoperated, and in the following description I shall only refer to theactuating mechanism for one of these sections. This actuating mechanismis very simple in construction and efi'ective and reliable in operation.It may, furthermore, be used to advantage in connection with devicesother than hammer rest-rails.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of a player piano having meansconstructed in accordance with this invention for shifting the hammerrest-rail, said rail being shown in the normal position, in which thehammer has the normal stroke.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the rest-rail moved up toshorten the hammer stroke:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the equalizer bellows and controllingvalve for the actuating pneumatic, showing said parts in the positionindicated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the pneu matic for actuating the restrail, takenon the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sections on lines 55 and 66, respectively, ofFig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the diaphragm cover.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the valve mechanism of thepneumatic, taken 7 on a line corresponding to the line 7* A of ing valvewhich cooperates with said valve block.

As previously stated, my invention is par ticularly applicable to apneumatic player piano in which the hammer rest-rail is divided intobase and treble sections. Inasmuch as the operating means for the two(or more) sections are alike, I have only considered it necessary toillustrate one rest-rail section with its operating means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the piano selected for illustration hasstrings 20, adapted to be struck by hammers 21 (of which only one isshown) pivoted to the usual supporting rail 22, and adapted to beactuated in any suitable manner by a pneumatic action A, indicated inthe drawings by the valve chest a shown partly broken away, to which apneumatic Z) for operating the wippen 23 is operatively secured.inasmuch as the construction of the pneumatic action A and the manner inwhich it operates forms no part of this invention, a fuller descriptionis believed to be unnecessary. The pneumatic action A is connected by atube 2 to a reservoir or equalizer bellows B, which in turn is connectedin the usual manner by a tube 525 with the main exhausting apparatus orbellows. i have not con sidered it necessary to indicate theconstruction of the main exhaust bellows, but the same is showndiagrammatically at C in Fig. 2. The hammer rest-rail section isindicated at 26, the same being located back of the hammer shanks in theusual location and pivoted by hinges "27 to a supporting rail 28. Thehinged rest-rail is properly connected, for example, by a wir 29 with anactuating pneumatic'D having suitable valve mechanism hereinafterdescribed, and connected by a tube 30 with the equalizer bellows B. Theupper end of the wire is connected to an angle piece 31 applied to thefront surface of the rest-rail 26. so that when the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 1 the pulling down of the wire 29 will cause therest-rail to swing on the axis of its hinges 27 in a forward direction,'2'. 6., toward the strings. so as to move the hammers toward thestrings and thereby shorten their effective stroke, as shown in Fig.This downward pulling movement of the wire 29 is effected by the movableleaf of the pneumatic D, which leaf is arranged uppermost so that itwill be pulled downward by the collapse of the pneumatic. .1 cleat 33,applied to this movable leaf. is properly connected with the lower endof the rail-actuating wire. When the pneumatic is permitted to expand a5-in. the wire is moved upward, and the :ESli-lilll 26 swings back(assisted by gravity) to its normal inclined position in which a fullstroke of the hammers is permitted. The pneumatic D is normally held inthe expanded position by a spring 3% of usual form.

The valve mechanism for the pneumatic D is contained within a valveblock which in the example shown is located bene the pneumatic. T eadi eupward from the bottom of the valve block is an upright ductSGcomnmnicating at its lower end with an elbow 87. to which the upperend of the tube 30 is attached. Double 'alves 38 are horizontallymovable at opposite sides of the duct 36 for controlling thecommunication of the interior space 39 of the pneumatic with the exhaustapparatus and with the atmosphere. Each of the valves 38 which I preferto designate in its entirety as a primary valve is located in a chamber39 at one face of the valve block, and said chambers are inclosed by acover piece 49. Each of the primary or double *alves has a valve portion41 to control an opening l2 in the cover piece, and another valveportion 43 to control a valve seat is in the valve block. \Vhen thevalve portion 1-1 fits tightly against the inner face of the coverpiece, so as to close the opening 42, the chamber 39 is cut oil from theatmosphere, and when the valve portion 13 fits tightly on the seat is,this chamber 39 is cut oil' from the duct 36, with which it mayotherwise communicate by means of a duct 45. Each of the valve chambers39 is adapted to communicate with the interior space 89 of the pneumaticby way of a duct 4:5. The outer part of the cover piece 40 abovementioned is pret-rably covered with felt or other material pervious toair but impervious to dust, and the inner face of this cover piece has alayer of leather. or the like, applied thereto so that the valveportions a l can be pressed into airtight contact with their seats. Eachof the double valves has a stem lti guided in a transverse bore in theblock, and at the side of the block opposite the valve chambers 39, thevalve stems are equipped with operating heads or buttons 47. adapted tobe actuated by diaphragms 48, secured in place by adiaphragm cover -19.Each of the buttons 4LT operates in a chamber 59 of the valve block andbehind each of the diaphragms is a suction chamber 5i. Intermediate thechambers 50, the valve block is provided with a lateral duct 52extending from the upright duct 36 to one face of the valve block. Thislateral duct 52 registers and communicates with a bleed 53 in thediaphragm cover 49 intermediate the diaphragm chambers 51. The bleed 53communicates with both diaphragm chambers by small lateral ducts 54:, asshown in Figs. 7 and T Leading from one of the diaphragm chambers 51 isa small metal tube 55, connected by a flexible tube 56 with a valvemechanism E which is controlled from the equalizer bellows B.

The valve mechanism E for controlling the pneumatic D is preferablyconstructed as follows: Applied to the under part of the key bed 5? ofthe piano. or to any other suitable support within the piano, is adepending valve block 58 having a port 59 in one face thereof. Theflexible tube 56 is attached to a metal tube 60, extending into theblock at one side, and communicatmg with port 59 by way of a passage 61.A flap valve 62 is swingingly mounted adjacent the block so that saidvalve may close and open the port 59. In the .form shown, the flap valveis provided at its upper end with trunnions. 63 which are journaled insmall brackets 64 at the upper part of the valve block 58, and the faceof the Valve block in which the port 59 is formed is inclined at anangle to the vertical so that in the normal pendant position the valve62 rests by gravity on the valve block and closes the port 59. In orderthat the port 59 may be tightly closed when the valve is in thisposition, the working face of the valve is preferably covered withleather, or other suitable material, as shown at 65. A rod 66 rigid withthe flap valve hangs down in proximity to the bellows B and is adaptedto be operated thereby. By preference the movable leaf or lid of thebellows B is provided with a bracket 67 in which adjustable a shank 68carrying a felted bumper 69, adapted to engage the lower end of rod 66to thereby lift the flap valve from its seat.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: With strongor medium pumping of the usual pedal mechanism, the equalizer bellows Bis sufficiently collapsed to disengage the bumper or operator 69 fromthe rod or extension 66 on the flap valve. The flap valve thereforeoccupies the closed position. [The penumatic D remains inoperativebecause the suction from B through tube 30 sucks the air from thechambers '51 behind the diaphragms 48 (through the lateral duct 52,bleed 53 and. ducts 54), and also exhausts the small chambers back ofthe valve portions 43 by way of ducts 45, so that atmospheric pressureholds the valve portions 43 on their seats to cut off the suctionapparatus from the pneumatic, while at the same time the valve portions41, which are connected with the portions 43, are held off their seats,so that the pneumatic is in communication with the atmosphere by way ofthe passage 45 and the openings or ports 42. When the parts are in thisposition. the tube 56 is exhausted owing to the factthat the port 59 isclosed by the swinging valve 62 while suction is exerted on the interiorof the tube from the suction duct 36, by way of duct 52, the left-handduct 54, and left-hand chamber 51 (Fig. 7), and the tube 55. Suppose,however, that the person playing the piano wishes to play pianissimo,the pedaling is cut down as usual, and this automatically causes thehammer rest-rail to be moved up to shorten the stroke of the hammers.The reason for this is that when the pedaling force is reduced, thebellows B expands so that the bumper 69 engages the extension on theflap valve 62 and pushes said valve away from its seat on the valveblock 58, thereby opening the tube 56 to the atmosphere. As soon as thistube is opened the equilibrium of the valve mechanism of the pneumatic Dis upset, and as air rushes through the tube 56 into the diaphragmchambers 51, the diaphragms or pouches 48 are actuated to shift thedouble valves by means of their buttons and stems. In this manner thevalve portions 38 are caused to seat on the cover piece 40, and therebycut off the pneumatic from the atmosphere, while simultaneously thevalve portions 43 are moved off their seats so as to establishcommunication between the suction duct 36 and the pneumatic. Thepneumatic therefore immediately collapses, and its movable leaf carriesdownward the wire 29 so as to actuate the hinged rest-rail 26 in themanner previously described. As soon as medium or hard pedaling isresumed, the equalizer bellows is again substantially collapsed and thisenables the flap valve to seat itself by gravity, so that the diaphragmchambers are again exhausted, and the double valves of the pneumatic aremoved back to the initial position to expand the pneumatic D.

By having the bumper 69 adjustable, the penumatic D can be caused toactuate the hammer rail automatically upon any given expansion of theequalizer bellows within 100 certain limits, and the parts may be nicelyadjusted to secure the results desired. It will be seen that when theforce of the pedaling is decreased for the purpose of decreasing thestriking force of the pneu- 105 matic action A on the piano action, thesoftening effect is automatically accentuated by shortening of thehammer strokes, and this is done in a very simple and effective manner.

Various modifications of the described arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention. For example, I do not limitmyself in all aspects of the invention to a construction in which 115 anadjustable bumper on the equalizer bellows is arranged to operate andcontrol the valve. It will. be apparent, furthermore, that while I haveshown the hammer restrail controlled solely by automatic means, 120various changes in. this and other features may be adopted withoutdigressing from the scope of the claims.

What I claim. is

1. In a musical instrlnnent, the combina- 125 tion with hammers andstrings, of a movable rest-rail for shortening the strokes of thehammers, a source of exhaust, an equalizer bellows in communicationtherewith, and pneumatic means including a valve operated 180 by saidbellows for shortening the hammer stroke automatically by movement ofsaid hammer rest-rail toward the strings when said bellows is expandedto a predetermined degree, and :tor lengthening the hammer stroke whensaid bellows is collapsed to a certain degree.

2. in a musical instrument, the combination with hammers and strings,oi" a movable rest-rail for shortening the strokes of the hammers, asource of exhaust, an equalizer bellows in communication therewith, andpneumatic means for shortening the hammer stroke automatically bymovementof said hammer rest-rail toward the strings upon the expansionoi. said bellows beyond a predetermined degree, including a valveexterior to said bellows, controlled by the movement thereof.

3. In a player piano, the combination oli hammers and strings, a movablerest-rail tor the hammers, a pneumatic device for shifting saidrest-rail, a pressure reducingbellows for operating said pneumaticdevice, an equalizer bellows, and a controlling valve for said pneumaticdevice ranged exteriorly of but controlled by said equalizer bellows.

In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, a pneumaticaction for operating the hammers. pressure reducing means for operatingsaid pneumatic action, including an equalizer bellows, a movable hammerrest-rail, a pneumatic connected to said restaail to shift the same, anda controlling valve for said pneumatic automatically controlled by theexpansion and contraction of said equalizer bellows.

5. In a player piano, the combination oi. hammers and strings, apneumatic action for operating the hammers, pressure reauc ing means foroperating said pneumatic tion, including an equalizer bellows, a movablehammer rest-rail, a pneumatic for shifting said resta'ail, and acontrolling valve for said pneumatic automatically controlled by theexpansion and cont action of said equalizer bellows, said valve havingan operating part cooperating with the movable leaf of said equalizerbellows.

6. In a player piano, the combination oi hammers and strings, ashittable rest-rail for the hammers, a pneumatic for moving saidrest-rail toward the strings to shorten the hammer stroke, pressurereducing means connected with said pneumatic. a controlling valve forsaid pneumatic, adapted to be opened to move the hammers toward thestrings, pneumatic means for operating the hammers, and an equalizerbellows controlled by the pedaling of the instrument, and provided withmeans to open said controlling valve automatically when the be llows isexpanded to a certain extent.

7. In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, a movablerest-rail "for the hammers. a pneumatic for shifting said rest-rail toshorten the hammer stroke, pneumatically operated means for actuatingthe hammers, ann pressure reducing means connected with said last namedmeans, and also connected with said pneumatic tor actuating the hammerrest-rail, said pressurereauoing means including an equalizer bellowshaving a movable leai, and a controllin valve for said pneumatic, whichis closed when said equalizer bellows is co]- lapsed to a certainextent, but opened by the movable lent oi said bellows when said bellowsis expanded beyond a predetermined degree.

8. In a player piano, the combination oi hammers and strings, a movablerest rail for shortening the hammer stroke, pneumatically operated meanstor actuating the hammers, an equalizer bellows 1 communication withsaid pneumatically operated means, controlled by the pumping of theinstrument, pneumatic means for moving the hammer rest rail to therebyshorten or lengthen the hammer stroke and means acting on saidlast-named means for shortening the hammer stroke when said bellows isexpanded to a predetermined degree and for lengthening" the hammerstroke when said bellows is collapsed to a certain degree.

9. in a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, a movablehammer rest rail, pneumatically operated means for actuating" thehammers, means including an equalizer bellows for actuating saidpneumatically operated means, pneumatic means for operating saidrest-rail to vary the length of the hammer stroke, and means arrangedexteriorly of said equalizer bellows but acaiated thereby to controlsaid pneumatic means for causing the hammer rest rail to be moved towardthe strings when said equalizing bellows is at or near its fullexpansion and to move away from the strings when said bellows iscollapsed by hard pumping.

10. In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, a movablehammer rest rail, pneumatically operated means for actuating thehammers, means for actuating said pneumatically operated meansincludinc; an equalizer bellows, pneumatic means for moving saidrest-rail to thereby vary the hammer stroke, including aprimary valve,and means arranged exteriorly of said equalizer bellows but actuatedthereby to control said primary valve and thereby shorten the hammerstroke by movement of the hammer rest rail toward the strings when saidequalizer bellows is at or near its full expansion.

11. In a player piano, hammers and strings, a movable hammer rest rail,an equalizer bellows the expansion of which varies in accordancewith theforce with which the instrument is pumped, a pneumatic for moving saidhammer rest rail, a primary valve for said pneumatic, and means actuatedby the movable leaf of said bellows for controlling said primary valveto lengthen the hammer stroke by the partial collapse of said bellowsand to shorten it by the expansion of the bellows.

12. In a musical instrument, a bellows having a movable leaf, pressurereducing means connected with said bellows, a fixed valve block adjacentthe movable leaf of said bellows, a pendant flap valve cooperating withsaid valve block and normally closed by gravity, an adjustable devicemounted on the movable leaf of said bellows for opening said flap valvewhen the bellows is expanded to a' certain extent and permitting it toclose when the. bellows is collapsed to a certain extent, and pneumaticmeans connected with said valve block and controlled by said flap valveand an expression device controlled by said pneumatic means.

13. In a musical instrument, a bellows, a

valve structure above said bellows adapted,

to be operated by the movable leaf of said bellows, comprising a valveblock having an inclined face with a port therein, and a dependinghinged flap valve normally held by gravity against the face of saidblock to close said port, said flap valve having an operating partwhereby it may be engaged and opened by the bellows and an expressiondevice controlled by said flap valve,

14. In a player piano, an expression device, a neumatic for operatingthe same, an equa izer bellows, a flap valve for controlling theoperation of said pneumatic, and means for opening said flap valve bythe ex ansion of said bellows.

15. n a player piano, an air operated expression device, an equalizerbellows, a controlling valve for said expression device,

, and means operated by the movable leaf of said bellows for openingsaid valve when said bellows is expanded.

16. In a player piano, an expression de vice including a pneumatichaving a primary valve, a controlling valve in communication with saidprimary valve, an equalizer bellows, and means operable by the movableleaf of said bellows for opening said controlling valve by the expandingmovement of said bellows.

17. In a player piano, an expression device including a pneumatic with aprimary valve, a controlling valve in communication with said primaryvalve, an equalizer bellows, and means operated by the movable leaf ofsaid bellows for holding said controlling valvein an open position aslong as said bellows is expanded to or nearly to the full extent.

18. In a player piano, an expression de vice, means including apneumatic valve for controlling said device, an equalizer bellows theinflation of which is controlled by the pumping of the instrument, andmeans associated with the movable leaf of said bellows for holding saidvalve in the open position when the bellows is in the normal expandedcondition, said valve arranged to close automatically when said bellowsis collapsed.

19. In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, of amovable rest-rail for shortening the strokes of the hammers, a pneumaticoperatively connected to said rest-rail to move the same, an equalizingbellows having a movable leaf, pressure reducing means for operatingsaid pneumatic, and means operated by the movement of said leaf forcontrolling the operation of said pneumatic.

20. In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, of amovable rest-rail for shortening the strokes of the hammers, a pneumaticoperatively connected to said rest-rail to move the same, a primarvvalve for controlling the operation of said pneumatic, and meansincluding a controlling valve to operate said primary valve, saidcontrolling valve constructed to be opened and closed by variations inthe force with which the instrument is pumped.

21. In a pneumatic musical instrument, a piano action, including hammersand strings, means for advancing said hammers toward said strings, avalve for controlling said advancing means, a source of exhaust, apneumatic having a movable leaf in communication therewith, and means onsaid movable leaf contacting with said valve as said pneumatic isexpanded.

22. In a pneumatic musical instrument, a piano action, including hammersand strings, means for advancing said hammers toward said strings, avalve for controlling said advancing means, a source of exhaust, apneumatic having a movable leaf in communication therewith, and means onsaid movable leaf contacting with said valve as said pneumatic isexpanded, the point of contact between said means and valve beingadjustable.

23. In an expression device for a pneumatic musical instrument, anexpression pneumatic, a valve for controlling the same, a source ofexhaust, a pneumatic having a movable leaf in communication therewithand cooperating means on said valve and said movable leaf whereby saidvalve is opened by the expansion of said pneumatic, said means beingadjustable to vary the point of opening of said valve.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on the 31st day of May,1917.

STANLEY L. FISHER.

